Paint applicator roll with internal paint supply

ABSTRACT

A PAINT APPLICATOR ROLL COMPRISING A CIRCUMFERENTIALLY PERFORATED CYLINDRICAL SHELL, A PERMEABLE CLOTH SLEEVE SNUGLY SURROUNDING THE EXTERIOR OF SAID SHELL, A PAINT RESERVOIR ADJACENT THE INTERIOR OF SAID SHELL, A HOLLOW PAINT CONDUCTING SPINDLE AND MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID SHELL FOR ROTATION ABOUT SAID SPINDLE.

Jan.- 12, 1971.; R, E. sroKEs' 3,554,659'

.PAINT APPLICATQR ROLL WITH INTERNAL PAINT SUPPLY Filed Ma'rcn zzflgse 2 sheets-she`et 1 1 La \ff" INVENToR.

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R. E. STOKES Jan.. 12,1971

`PAINT APPLICATORNOLL WITH INTERNAL PAINT SUPPLY Filed March 22;'{1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 L Am.)

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mwgamf TT/VEYJ United States Patent O 3,554,659 PAINT APPLICATOR ROLL WITH INTERNAL PAINT SUPPLY Roy E. Stokes, 22946 Mariano, Woodland Hills, Calif. 91364 Filed Mar. 22, 1968, Ser. No. 715,217

Int. Cl. B44d 3/28 U.S. Cl. 401-197 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to paint applicator rolls and has for its particular object the provision of such a roll ymounted for rotation about an axis connected to a handle, the handle having means to convey paint to the interior of the roll.

A further object of this invention is to provide a roll as aforesaid which can be supplied with additional paint Without interrupting the painting operation.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a roll as aforesaid which is leak-proof except within desired areas and which is easily dismounted for the purposes of cleaning.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a roll as aforesaid which is particularly adaptable to being cleaned simultaneously both from the outside and the inside.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a mounting for a roll as aforesaid which is adaptable to various lengths of applicator rolls.

The above and other objects will be made clear from the following detailed `description taken in connection with the annexed drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view partly in section showing the combination of one form of the improved roll with an applicator handle and the connection of the handle to a paint supply;

FIG. 2 is a view partly in section taken at right angles to FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a plan view similar to FIG. 1 but showing a modification involving twin or double applicator rolls;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing the parts of FIG. 3 adjusted to accommodate a different length of applicator roll; and

FIG. 5 shows a modification of the roll mounting means of FIGS. 3 and 4.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown an applicator rollI mounted on one leg of a U-shaped frame 12, the opposite leg of which is bent to form an extension 14 which may also act as a handle. The extension 14 is joined to a tube 16 which may be either rigid or flexible. The opposite end of the tube 16 is joined to a pump generally designated 18. The pump 18 has a body portion 20 which has a vertical extension 22 joined to a valve xture attached to a paint supply can 26.

As seen in FIG. l, the body portion has oppositely disposed linger grips 28 and, as seen in FIG. 2, the body portion 20 has a central bore which terminates in a shoulder which defines an axial bore 34. The front end of the body portion 20 is threaded at 36 to point a nipple 38 which is a conventional joint with the tube 16. The nipple 38 has a cross bar 40 which backs up a spring 42 bearing on a ball 44 which forms a check valve for the passage 34.

Patented Jan. 12, 1971 The inlet extension 22 contains a cross-piece 46 supporting a spring 48 which bears on a ball 50. The ball 50 seats on an inlet lpipe 52 which extends to adjacent the bottom of the paint container 26.

The body portion 20 and its bore houses a compression spring 54 on which a piston 56 bears. The pistion is controlled by a stem 58 operated by a push-button 60. When the push-button 60 is moved to the right of FIGS. l and 2, any liuid in the passageway 34 will be forced past the check valve 44 and enter the tube 16. 0n retraction of the push-button 60 with its piston 56, paint is drawn through the tube 52 past the check valve 50 and into the passage 34.

As indicated at 62, in FIG. 1, the stem 14 as well as the U-shaped member 12 is hollow. The U-shaped member 12 has an outer stem 64 which also contains a continuation of the bore 62. On the exterior of the stem 64 is threaded a collar 66 and the free end of the stem 64 is internally threaded to receive a cap screw 68. A stopper disc 70 is mounted on the stem 64 adjacent the cap screw 68 while a similar disc 72 is mounted on the stem 64 adjacent the collar 66. Both discs are freely rotatable on the stem 64. A cylindrical sleeve 74 snugly fits the discs 70 and 72 and is secured to the disc 70 by a screw 76 and to the disc 72 by a screw 78. The sleeve 74 with the discs 70 and 72 delines a paint well 80 surrounding the stem 64 which within the axial extent of the well has radial perforations 82 which receive paint through the channel 62.

Outside the sleeve 74 is a perforated cylinder 84 externally covered by a long nap cloth sleeve 86. The sleeve 84 has entirely around its periphery a plurality of perforations 88 which serve to deliver paint from the space between cylinders 74 and 84 to the cloth cover 86.

The sleeves 74 and 84 are spaced from each other by O-rings 90 which also serve as end closures for the charnber defined by the spacing between the sleeves. The inner sleeve 74 simply has one or more fairly large perforations 92 within the area of the paint chamber 80 so that paint is freely flowable into the space between the sleeves ,and thence to the cloth cover 86.

The ends of the sleeves 74 and 84 are completely unobstructed and when it is desired to `dismantle the apparatus and remove the applicator from the stem 64, it is only necessary to reach in through the upper end (FIG. 1) of the applicator and remove the cap screw 68. The entire structure involving discs 70 and 72 as well as sleeves 74 and 84 may then be slid olf the stem 64, making the outfit available for cleaning or a change or cover or such other service as may be indicated.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there are shown a pair of rolls 100. These are identical and could, of course, be the same as the rolls described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2. The structures shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, however, seem somewhat better adapted to the dual or twin operation and have been modified lfrom the structures of FIGS. l and 2, as will hereinafter be described.

In FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, there is a rigid supply pipe 102 which also operates as a handle and which may be connected to a pump and bucket arrangement, as described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2, or the pipe 102 may be connected to any other source of paint under pressure which may be supplied at the will of the operator by any conventional valve.

The pipe 102 is threaded into a T-member 104 and each end of the T threadedly engages a hollow central shaft 106. Mounted on the shaft 106 adjacent the T 104 is a disc 108 having an outer annular 'ange 110. The disc 108 is secured against lateral shifting by a collar 112 mounted on the shaft 106 and engaging the disc 108.

As best shown in FIG. 3, a perforated metal sleeve 114, having perforations 116 equally spaced around its entire cylindrical surface, engages the disc 108 and its ange 110 with a snugly sliding fit. The disc 108 is freely rotatable on the shaft 106. The cylinder 114 is covered by a cloth sleeve 118 having a relatively long nap 120.

The free end of the shaft 106 receives a stud 122 which has a plurality of radial threaded bores 12,4 which selectively may receive a screw 126. The stud 122 therefore is axially adjustable relative to the shaft 106. A disc 128 having an annular flange 130 snugly lits the sleeve 114 forming a closure for the sleeve and rotatably engages the stud 122.

The hollow shaft 106 has at its approximate axial center a perforation 132 through which paint received from the pipe 102 passes into the chamber defined by the hollow shaft 106 and the sleeve 114, thence the paint passes through perforations 116 in the sleeve 114 and permeates the cloth sleeve 118.

When it is desired to remove the cylinder 114 with its wrapper or sleeve 118, it is only necessary to withdraw the disc 128 from its engagement with the stud 122. The opposite end freely slides away from the disc 108. The sleeve 114 and its wrapper 118 are then presented freely for cleaning purposes.

In FIG. 3, the stud 122 is engaged in the outermost of its perforations 124 so that most of the body of the stud 122 is contained within the hollow shaft 106. This accommodates a relatively short sleeve 114. In FIG. 4, the situation is reversed and a screw 126 engages the innermost perforation 124 of the stud 122 and thus accommodates a longer sleeve 114 which is covered with the usual cloth sleeve 118. The sleeve 114' with its disc 128 is removable for cleaning purposes precisely as in the case of FIG. 3.

FIG. shows a further modification of the construction heretofore discussed in connection with FIGS. 3 and 4. In this case, each end of the T 104 threadedly engages a stud 150 which is hollow, as indicated at 152, and at its opposite end threadedly engages a hollow rod 106 which has a paint discharge aperture 132.

The opposite end of the hollow rod 106 is internally threaded to engage the threads 154 of a stud 156.

A disc 108 with an external ange 110 is rotatably mounted on the stud 150 bet-Ween its threaded ends and is secured against axial movement by the hollow rod or pipe 106. A disc 128 having an external flange 130 is rotatably mounted on the stud 156. A cylindrical sleeve 114" has perforations 116" and the usual cloth sleeve or wrapper 118". The sleeve 114l has a snug sliding t on the disc 108 `and a tight sliding fit on the disc 128, the disc 128 being freely rotatable on the stud 156. For cleaning or other purposes, the sleeve 114" may be withdrawn with the disc 128 from engagement with the disc 108 and separately presented for such cleaning or other purposes as may be desired.

The advantages of internal feed in a device of this type are manifest since such a construction automatically eliminates any possibility of splashing or dripping. It is not necessary for full saturation of the cloth wrappers that the chamber between the perforated cylinder and the central supply pipe be absolutely full. The chamber need contain only enough paint to assure that there is some sort of pooling effect throughout the internal extent of the perforated tube between the end discs. It is, however, essential that the most active components, namely, the perforated sleeve and its cloth cover Ibe removable for easy and thorough cleaning, in order that changes in paint color and shade may be accommodated and also that the 4 applicator may be stored for considerable periods without solidification of the paint.

The devices described hereinabove are intended primarily for use with paints in which water is primarily the vehicle and when that is the case, the discs such as and 72 of FIG. 1 and the discs 108 and 128 of FIG. 3 may be of plastic as indeed may be the perforated cylinders. If organic solvents are used as the vehicle, plastics may still be used but the selection is considerably more limited.

While certain specific details of construction have been disclosed herein very clearly these will suggest many variations to those skilled in the art. For example, the device of FIGS. 1 and 2 may utilize a small receptacle 26 with the tube 16 rigid and the entire device useable as a unit. Moreover, it would be simple enough if a very large paint storage capacity is desired to place a flexible tube within the projection 22 so that with the receptacle 26 removable the rest of the apparatus would still be useable at considerable distances from the receptacle 26. It is not intended, therefore, to limit this invention to the precise details disclosed but only as set forth in the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a paint applicator, support means, a pair of hollow perforated central stems secured to said support means and extending oppositely therefrom and having a common axis, a pair of discs rotatably mounted relative to each stem and coaxial therewith, each pair of discs comprising an inner disc rotatably mounted on its associated stem and an outer disc spaced axially from said inner disc, a perforated sleeve surrounding each stern and snugly tting the discs thereof, a cloth cover on each sleeve receiving paint from the sleeve, and means to adjust each central stem to accommodate a substantial range of lengths of sleeve, each adjusting means comprising a stud engageable in the associated central stem, the associated outer disc having a central recess rotatably and supportngly receiving the outer end of the stud, said outer disc being at times disengageable from the stud by moving the outer disc axially outwardly from the stud, and means to adjustably rigidly secure each stud in its associated central stem, said securing means comprising screw means extending through the wall of each central stem, each stud having longitudinally spaced threaded bores in which the associated screw means is selectively threadedly engageable.

2. The device of claim 1, including a T-joint between said stems and joined to each, said T-joint having a connection to a paint supply.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,921,901 8/1933 Anderson 401-197X 2,357,763 9/ 1944 Pratt 401-197 2,478,318 8/1949 Raub, Jr. 401-197 2,627,620 2/1953 Gudze 401-197 3,372,976 3/ 1968 MacFarland 401-197 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,335,837 7/1963 France 401-197 1,069,149 2/1954 France 15-23011 1,133,801 11/1956 France 15-23011 ROBERT W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 15-230.11 

